| Vitamins (combination of two words: Vital | | | | |
| Amines) are the complex organic substance | | | | Vitamin C |
| essential in small quantities to the | | | | |
| metabolism (nutrition) in most animals. These | | | | Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is a |
| are found in minute quantities in food, in | | | | water-soluble, antioxidant vitamin that is |
| some cases are produced by the body, and are | | | | vital to the production of collagen, a |
| also produced synthetically. The human body | | | | protein that gives structure to bones, |
| needs them to work properly, so that we can | | | | cartilage, muscle, and blood vessels. It is |
| grow and develop just like we should. Their | | | | important for keeping body tissues, such as |
| deficiency results in many serious disorders. | | | | gums and muscles in good shape and it helps |
| | | | in quick healing of wounds. In addition, it |
| Vitamins are divided into two major groups: | | | | helps protecting the fat-soluble vitamins A |
| the 'fat-soluble vitamins' designated as | | | | and E as well as fatty acids from oxidation. |
| vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin | | | | |
| K, and the 'water-soluble vitamins' which | | | | The vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits |
| include vitamin C and the group of molecules | | | | (like lemon & orange), cantaloupe, |
| referred to as the vitamin B complex. Each of | | | | strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage and |
| them has its own special role in the | | | | in other fresh fruits and vegetables. |
| development of human body. | | | | |
| | | | The deficiency of vitamin C affects the |
| Vitamin A | | | | healthy skin; poor wound healing and can lead |
| | | | to a disease called "Scurvy" which causes |
| Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin, plays a | | | | bleeding in gums, easy bruising, bumps of |
| really big part in eyesight and helps us to | | | | coiled hair on the arms and legs, pain in the |
| see in dim light and also at night. Vitamin A | | | | joints, muscle wasting, and many other |
| is also involved in the formation and | | | | problems. |
| maintenance of healthy skin, hair, and mucous | | | | |
| membranes. In addition, it is necessary for | | | | Vitamin D |
| proper bone growth, tooth development, | | | | |
| reproduction and for the development of | | | | Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that |
| epithelial cells (that line any opening to | | | | regulates the formation of bone and the |
| the body e.g.; nose, throat, lungs, mouth, | | | | absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the |
| stomach, intestines and urinary tract). | | | | intestine. It helps to control the movement |
| | | | of calcium between bone and blood, and vice |
| Vitamin A can be found in eggs, milk, | | | | versa. It is this vitamin you need for strong |
| carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, fish oil, | | | | bones and teeth. In addition it helps your |
| liver (pork, lamb, chicken, turkey or beef), | | | | body absorb the amount of calcium it needs. |
| butter, broccoli, apricots, nectarines, | | | | |
| cantaloupe, and orange or yellow vegetables | | | | Vitamin D can be found in fish liver oil, egg |
| or fruits. | | | | yolks, milk and other dairy products |
| | | | fortified with vitamin D. It is also produced |
| The deficiency of vitamin A can cause two | | | | in our body in the presence of ultra violet |
| major disorders like: night blindness and | | | | light and sunlight. |
| drying of skin. | | | | |
| | | | The deficiency of vitamin D can cause weak |
| Vitamin B | | | | bones and bowed legs (in children). And its |
| | | | excess can cause loss of appetite, weight |
| Vitamin B itself is a complex of different | | | | loss, nausea, headache, depression and |
| vitamins like: B1, B2, B6, B12, niacin, folic | | | | deposits of calcium in the kidneys. |
| acid, biotin and pantothenic acid. These B | | | | |
| vitamins are very important in metabolic | | | | Vitamin E |
| activity and in facilitating the red blood | | | | |
| cell (which carry oxygen throughout your | | | | Vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin, is |
| body). They also help your body make protein | | | | essential for the inhibition of oxidation in |
| and energy. | | | | body tissues, formation of red blood cells, |
| | | | and also prevents breakdown of body tissues. |
| The sources of vitamin B are leafy green | | | | It maintains the body tissues and protects |
| vegetables seafood, beans, peas, citrus | | | | the lungs from becoming damaged by polluted |
| fruits, whole grains (such as wheat and | | | | air. |
| oats), poultry, meats, eggs and dairy | | | | |
| products (like milk and yogurt). Some | | | | This vitamin can be found in whole grains |
| bacteria in our large intestine also prepare | | | | (such as wheat and oat), wheat germ, leafy |
| some type of B-vitamins. | | | | green vegetables, sardines, egg yolks, nuts, |
| | | | bread, cereals and seeds. |
| The deficiency of vitamin B can cause the | | | | |
| disease "Beri Beri", cracked lips, weak | | | | The deficiency of this vitamin can cause many |
| muscles, malformation of red blood cells, | | | | diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart |
| affects normal growth and disturbs the | | | | disease, and Alzheimer's disease. |
| nervous system. | | | | |